Imaging of electrical signals in a quantum SiC microscope

A. Suhana, T. A. U. Svetikova, C. Schneider, M. Helm, A. N. Anisimov, G. V. Astakhov

Published: 2025/9/18

Abstract

We report the experimental realization of a quantum silicon carbide microscope (QSiCM) and demonstrate its functionality by imaging magnetic fields generated by electrical currents. We employ a dual-frequency sensing protocol to enhance the readout contrast and suppress noise arising from strain and temperature fluctuations. This approach enables spatial imaging of current-induced magnetic fields with a field of view of $50 \times 50 $ virtual pixels, temporal resolution of $50\,\mathrm{ms}$, spatial resolution of $30\,\mathrm{\mu m}$ and sensitivity of about $2\,\mathrm{\mu T \, Hz^{-1/2}}$ per pixel. Further sensitivity enhancement is anticipated through the use of isotopically purified SiC and improved light collection in crystallographically optimized wafer orientations. In addition, we implement a microwave-free imaging protocol based on spin level anticrossing, offering simplified operation with enhanced sensitivity. The demonstrated platform is compatible with commercial, wafer-scale fabrication and holds strong potential for applications in biomedical imaging and diagnostics, as well as non-invasive current and temperature mapping in high-power electronic devices.